Corporate News

'New branch to opened support construction across the cross Suffolk and the wider East Anglian region’

Lords Group Trading plc, a leading distributor of building materials in the UK, is pleased to announce that its fully owned subsidiaries Lords Builders Merchants (‘Lords BM’) and Advance Roofing Supplies (‘Advance Roofing’), have opened a new joint site in Bury St Edmunds.

Following the success of the joint store opened in Bicester in May 2025, this new branch, situated on a prominent 1.6 acre site, has over 40 years’ worth of trading history within the Bury St Edmunds community as a former Kent Blaxill site. The branch has undergone a comprehensive modernisation and its 13 staff have more than a century of experience between them enabling Lords to provide new and returning customers with excellent customer service.

The branch will offer customers extensive stock availability on-site, reliable and consistent service, enhanced by the new access to Lords’ established network of trusted suppliers, all of which reinforces the Group’s commitment to supporting local trades with the products, expertise and service excellence they have come to associate with Lords.

Shanker Patel, Chief Executive Officer of Lords, said: “We are delighted to welcome the Bury St Edmunds branch and employees into the Lords family and to build upon the strong trading heritage that has served this community for over 40 years. This branch opening represents another significant milestone in our strategic expansion across the East Anglian region and demonstrates our commitment to investing in established trade locations and people.

“By modernising the facilities and providing local employment and skills, Lords is enhancing the service and product offering available to tradespeople across Suffolk and beyond. At Lords, we believe in supporting the communities we serve - through creating jobs, developing skills, and providing the reliable service that keeps local trades and communities thriving.”

Steve Durdant-Hollamby, Chief Operating Officer of Lords Merchanting division, said: “The Bury St Edmunds branch is an exciting addition to our growing Merchanting branch network and marks our second joint Lords Builders Merchants and Advance Roofing Supplies location, following the successful opening of the Bicester branch last year. What makes this opportunity particularly special is the chance to build upon the trusted relationships and deep-rooted trading history that already exists in this community. Our focus has been providing the expertise that customers rely on, while bringing the benefits of our extensive supplier network, competitive pricing, and comprehensive stock availability.

“This branch will continue to serve as a vital resource for local tradespeople, ensuring they have the materials, support, and service they need, when they need it, to keep their businesses moving forward."

FOR FURTHER ENQUIRIES:

Lords Group Trading plc	Via Burson Buchanan
Shanker Patel, CEO Steve Durdant-Hollamby, COO, Merchanting	Tel: +44 (0) 20 7466 5000
Burson Buchanan
Henry Harrison-Topham / Steph Whitmore / Abby Gilchrist	LGT@buchanan.uk.com

Notes to editors:

Lords is a specialist distributor of building, plumbing, heating and DIY goods. The Group principally sells to local tradesmen, small to medium sized plumbing and heating merchants, construction companies and retails directly to the general public.

The Group operates through the following three divisions:

Merchanting: supplies building materials and DIY goods through its network of merchant businesses and online platform capabilities. It operates both in the 'light side' (building materials and timber) and 'heavy side' (civils and landscaping), through 32 locations in the UK.

Plumbing and Heating: a specialist distributor in the UK of plumbing and heating products to a UK network of independent merchants, installers and the general public. The division offers its customers an attractive proposition through a multi-channel offering.  The division operates in over 16 locations enabling nationwide next-day delivery service.

Digital: a market-leading e-commerce only platform serving UK homeowners and trade professionals through a suite of specialist Superstore websites. With over 140,000 listed products, the Superstores provide anyone building or improving homes in the UK with a unique hybrid approach combining online convenience with expert technical and customer support.

Lords was established over 40 years ago as a family business with its first retail unit in Gerrards Cross, Buckinghamshire.  Since then, the Group has grown into a business operating from 48 sites.

For additional information please visit www.lordsgrouptradingplc.co.uk>>